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Two jet dryers collided while on the track ahead of the Daytona 500

JHby:Jonathan Howard•02/19/24•

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Daytona 500 jet dryer
NADIA ZOMORODIAN/NEWS-JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wild news ahead of the Daytona 500, while trying to dry the track, two NASCAR jet dryers collided with one another. There were no injuries from the incident.

Greg Engle of CupScene.com captured a photo of the aftermath. It looks like there is fuel on the track and there are emergency vehicles in the area. Just when we thought this rainy Monday Daytona 500 couldn’t get any more weird, here we are.

Hopefully, this was a minor incident and there are no serious injuries. Check out the photo below from CupScene.

The incident was cleared up relatively quickly, except for the bit of fuel that had leaked onto he track. I know if this was my local county fair demo derby, they’d just light that patch on fire and let it burn off. I’m guessing NASCAR will be much more professional while cleaning up the track.

Folks, we have had delays and wackiness this weekend. The last time a Monday Daytona 500 had a Ford front row and a jet dryer incident, 2012. Matt Kenseth took the victory that day. Could history be repeating itself before our very eyes?

Daytona 500 purse largest in motorsports history

Now, this is The Great American Race. Daytona, the World Center of Racing. So, of course, the prize money has to be just as big as the honor and glory of being a Daytona 500 champion. This year, it is the largest total purse in motorsports history.

The Harley J. Earl trophy isn’t the only prize these drivers are going for tonight. They are also racing for a chance to take home their share of $28,035,991 in prize money. That is the largest purse ever in motorsports, and it is up for grabs in the Daytona 500.

Of course, that is the total for all finishing positions and bonuses paid out under the charter agreement and all of that.

NASCAR is the pinnacle of motorsports in North America. The purse would reflect that for its top series. We have had a long and grueling weekend dealing with rain and bad weather. But don’t worry, the sun is out, fans are filling up the track, and we are going racing this afternoon.